Jay Robb Fudge Brownie Bars

BUY AT: Jay Robb or Whole Foods

Now, let me first say that in general, I don’t like bars. Not just the taste but the idea of them. I don’t think its a good idea to replace meals with a bar - especially when bars have 15 bazillion chemicals in them. No my friends, that is not a good time. And all those chemicals don’t taste like roast beef and pie, people. I normally do not trust bars at all. But there are times I find myself needing a snack or something to eat and a bar would be a perfect solution, especially since I can’t eat gluten and finding a quick snack can be hard. Especially on road trips.

Enter Jay Robb Bars. Basic, whole ingredients, no chemicals, no weird after taste. Chewy, filling, Gluten-Free and lovely! Look at what’s inside: Organic almond butter, organic agave syrup, whey protein isolate, whey protein crisps (whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, tapioca starch, calcium carbonate), hydrolyzed whey protein isolate, xylitol, arabic gum, rice bran, cocoa, water, natural flavors, vanilla, and sea salt.

Yes, we can eat that. Yes, our bodies will understand how to digest that. Yes, we will love the taste of it. Yes, we won’t buy those scary other bars that are “sweet cherry rhubarb chocolate” flavoured anymore, will we?

The only cavet is that these bars are hard to find in stores. I only found them at the Brentwood CA Whole Foods in Los Angeles and haven’t had luck in any other state thus far. So I’m ordering a box so I can have them on hand when I’m out and about and not sure when I’ll get a chance to eat or on a road trip when I’d rather have something wholesome and actually filling than fries that will outlast time.

Blue Energy Drink

BUY AT: Blue Sky & Whole Foods

Sometimes I’m left with little energy and need some kind of perk. But there are two problems with this: one I’m allergic to gluten which seems to be in everything and second, I don’t handle caffine very well. Oh, I also don’t like to have drinks that are made with 1.2 bazillion chemicals. So Coke, Coffee, & Red Bull are out for me. What’s a girl to do?

Drink Blue Energy. I swear, I am a convert! Gluten-free it’s packed full of Vitimin B12 & B6 which make you feel great and give you energy naturally. The list of ingridients is so short and actually really healthy - which is why Whole Foods carries it. You know how they check out labels.

Blue Energy really helps me when I need a kick without leaving me feeling jittery or shakey. Best of all, there is no “come down” period, there’s no addiction and there’s no weird feelings either drinking it or not. And the taste! I happen to love it - it’s sweet and yummy and oh so good.

I have been converting friends to this all over town and they’ll all say the same thing. So skip those high sugar, high chemical, too jittery drinks and get some natural energy.

Laloo’s Goat Milk Ice Cream

BUY AT: Laloo’s

So, if a little thing called “global warming” hadn’t occured, then the old adage “you don’t need air conditioning when you live at the beach” might be true. But with way above average temperatures and 50% humidity and a flat that has no air conditioning, things in this beach town aren’t pretty.

What’s a girl to do? Especially if she can’t eat gluten which cuts out 99% of cool treats and has issues with milk {sounds like a fun girl, no?}. What if, on top of this, she also likes organic products? That cuts out most ice creams, slushes and anything else that would give one a nice brain freeze.

Thank goodness for Laloo’s Goat Milk Ice Cream. Sound strange? Tastes amazing. And why wouldn’t it? The goats lead a happy life on over 300 acres in Sonoma Valley California so they produce the sweetest tasting ice cream with all organic, natural, wonderful ingridents.

The woman who runs Laloo’s used to be a big corproate wig dig who, on a trip to Italy, discovered her passion for cheese making. She gave up her career to make ice cream instead and lead the slow, healthy, natural life.

I dare you to not love the fig ice cream. It is absolutely amazing. And should you have issues with milk, chances are this will be fine. It is for me; especially during this heat wave.

It’s a little more expensive but it’s worth it, regardless if you have allergies or not. You’re support an artisan creamery and there’s something wonderful about that. You know where your food is coming from and you’re supporting an idea so it’s money well spent. Think about that the next time you buy some chemicle filled cream that’s from a big storage facility in DC.

LARABAR

BUY AT: LARABAR

Apple pie in a bar? Cinnamon roll in a bar? Or how about a little cherry? Sounds good, doesn’t it? But if you’re health conscious you might ask yourself how many chemicals make up this apple pie? If you have a food allergy you might assume that surely something in it will make you sick and if you’re calorie counting your thighs start expanding at the mere mention of the name.

But if your bars are LARABAR, have no fear. Made from very simple, organic ingredients (cashews, dates, unsweetened fruits and spices), LARABARS come in fabulous flavours that don’t taste fake nor leave those very disturbing after tastes. They deliver energy without chemicals or a tonne of calories and the best part? The unprocessed, uncooked, no added sugar added bars are all non-GMO, gluten free, dairy free, soy free, vegan and kosher!

My current addiction is the Cinnamon Roll bar. All the flavour without the hassle of baking. Ok, your kitchen doesn’t smell like your grandmums when eating but you can at least throw these in a bag for a quick afternoon pick me up that won’t have you crashing like the sugar infested buns.

So stop trying to digest bars full of stuff that will leave you feeling blah. You won’t regret going simple.

Chocolove

BUY AT: Chocolove & Whole Foods

I can’t believe it’s taken me three years to mention this as it’s my absolute favourite chocolate of all time (well, that I can get in America). Made in Belgium, this chocolate is the real deal. My favourite? Gingerlove with bits of crystalised ginger. Not a fan of that flavour? No worries - try it with real raspberries or oranges. And if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on the vintage flavours, do. It’s incredible!

So much iron, fiber, antioxidants and all around yummyness, this is the only chocolate one should eat (and eat often). Found at Whole Foods and Wild Oats it’s something I cannot be without. I’m considering buying it buy the box.

And to top off the love, each bar comes wrapped in a poem. Healthy, lovely, and charming, too. Perfect for a gift, or for a pick me up, or just because.

Baby Cakes NYC

It has been a very, very long time since I’ve had cake or icing; a tragedy considering I adore cupcakes. But since I have an auto-immune disease which literally almost killed me and can only be managed by not eating gluten or dairy, I haven’t been able to eat much of anything.

So when I discovered Baby Cakes NYC on the web tonight, I thought very, very carefully about moving to NY just so I could eat a cupcake a day. I confess I haven’t tried this yet so I can’t vouch if they’re good or not but the idea of it (along with my friend Felicia’s fabulous review) is enough for me to recommend it.

Agave Nectar

I don’t believe in fake sugar at all; no Splenda, Sweet and Low or flavoured syrups. They’re not only bad for you but for people who think they help you lose weight - they don’t. In fact, if you keep eating fake sugar than have something with real sugar, your body will react by overcompensating calories. It’s just all bad.

For me, it’s organic sugar from Whole Foods but sometimes I’d like something a little sweeter but not Honey. Step in Agave Nectar from Sweet Cactus Farms. In a easy to use squirt bottle, I just put a teaspoon of this liquid in my tea and voila, instant sweetness that doesn’t takeaway from the tea. And for those who are diabetic or where sugar is a concern, this ranks low on the glycemic index making it a much better alternative for you than fake sugar.

WOW Chocolate Chip Cookies

BUY AT: WOW Baking and Whole Foods

Truthfully, most gluten free cookies suck. They’re cumbly, bland and not like the real thing. Eating one usually leaves me wimpering at the end. However, the WOW Baking company has changed all that and sadly, turned me into a chocolate chip cookie addict.

Their gluten free cookies are moist, creamy, rich and oh so good. It is just like the ones your mama made (provided your mama made the best damn cookies).

Using all natural, premium ingredients, they’re not just gluten-free, they’re crap free. And one won’t be enough. Trust me.

And if you want that just baked taste, buy their dough and bring it home. Oh, the thought!

Pamelas Gluten-Free Brownie Mix

BUY AT: pamelas & Whole Foods

Baked goods and chocolate- two of my favourite things. However, with a severe allergy to gluten I thought these were things I’d never taste again - or taste well. But thanks to Pamelas, gluten-free brownies have never tasted so good or been so easy to make.

Just by adding a few ingredients, quickly mixing and baking for twenty minutes, delicious brownies are made and are, in fact, much better than most regular brownies. When I recently made them for a party they went fast - people couldn’t get enough! Gluten free living was never so sinfully good.

The site also has a whole bunch of other amazing mixes from cookies to cakes as well as a lot of information for gluten free living.

Smooth Dark Tangerine Chocolate

Buy from Endangered Speices Chocolate

I consider myself somewhat of a connesuer of chocolate; having had the best from around the world I’m rather picky and like only a select few. This happens to be one of my favourites.

Dark, pure chocolate with a hint of tangerine, this chocolate is truly smooth and creamy - a unique combination, considering it’s a bar that sells around $2. The best part? 10% of the bars profits go to charity. It’s a win win!

(Note: This chocolate is not gluten-free.